Some simple ways to improve the meat industry

Much is said and written about the cost to the farmer and industry as a whole of overcapacity, while many commentators see fundamental changes to the selling, processing and procurement structure as the only way to solve the problem. There are many suggestions ranging from single desk selling to company mergers to consumer led breeding and marketing of ‘designer’ products.

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Current season better than last

After what all processors termed a challenging season last year, the mood this season is decidedly more buoyant after a solid first four months when dry weather throughout the country produced good stock flows. Regular rain since early February in the main farming regions has slowed things down a bit, but the onset of autumn and the dairy cow cull will ensure reasonably consistent livestock availability without any likelihood of a seasonal peak.

Stick to the knitting

Stock and station agencies have a long history in this country, performing essentially the same role throughout their existence, but at the same time the industry has undergone enormous change. At the turn of the 20^th century there were 80 firms, by 1986 when Wrightson and Dalgety merged this had fallen to seven, while today there is only one full service firm, PGG Wrightson (PGW) supplemented by Elders and Allied Farmers offering a narrower range of services, three specialist farm merchandise retailers, wool buyers, and a number of regional agencies offering livestock, grain and seed, and advisory services.

Sector strategy vulnerable to grass growth

At the end of the sector strategy’s first stage there will be a plan which draws on the interviews with farmers, processors and stock agents, analysis of a huge amount of data, and input from the consultation meetings held round the country.